Apparatus por supporting arches



, March 26, 1929. J, M, Hlss Re. 17,243

APPARATU$ FOR SUPPORTING ARGHES Original Filed May 14, 11923 3Sheets-Sheet 1 "WW JGHN M.H|SS

March 26, 1929. M, H1 Re. 17,243

APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING ARCHES in l Filed y 14. 1925 '5 Sheets-Sheet 21 Wm JOHN M.H|$S

March 26, 1929. J. M. HISS Re. 17,243

APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING ARCHES ori inal FiledMay 14, 1923 :5Sheets-Sheet 5 ammo/M1307, JOHN M.H|S$

mumm Reissued Mar. 26, 1929.

UNITED STATES I Rama PATENT OFFICE.-

J'OHN HISS, F COLUMBUS, OHIO APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING ARCHES.

Original No. 1,484,785, dated February 26, 1924, Serial No. 638,838,filed May 14, 1923. Application for I reissue filed February 16, 1926.Serial No. 88,707.

' My invention relates to an apparatus for supporting arches of the footand has particularly to do with the provisionof a novel means forsupporting different parts of a fallen arch to varying degrees andgradually elevating the arch'to its former height, although it is eually well adapted to the correct support 0 the arches of any foot.

In the prior art, it has been customary to provide variously shaped archsupports of both stiff and semi-rigid material and in some casesthe-support itself'has been made adjustable. These efforts in the pasthave apparently failed because, for one reason, they have failed toprovide a firm walkingsurface to the external tarsal arch whichnaturally touches and bears weight along 1ts entire length. Anotherreason is that these efprovisi'onofa support 0 forts have attempted'tosupport the arches by applying pressure directly to the internal tarsalarch and thus really causing atrophy of the'very important foot musclescomprisin' this internal arch.

y invention contemplates the methodof firmly supporting the externaltarsal arch'of the foot and then initially or gradually adjusting themeans for fitting such arch sup port to only indirectly support theinternal tarsal arch leaving that arch free for flexion. The resultsought is accomplished by means of animproved simple, substantial andcompact structure which comprises a shank adapted to be incorporatedwiththeshoeto insure proper firm support for the external archof thefoot and at the same time to provide only indirect support for theinternal arch of the foot.

One of theobjects of m invention is the such shape and material that itwill furnish stiffening to the external-lateral portion of the shank ofthe shoe, thereby affording a rigid support for the outer longitudinalarch.

Another object of my invention is the rovision of means adapted to beinserte or placed in the'shoe and which means when connected to the shoewill be eifective to fiex- .ibly and indirectly support the inner lonifoot, and which means may ,be-adjusted to fl i y ppor internal arches ofvarying heights,

Another object of my invention contemplates the, revision of a splintfor the tarsal bones'of the arch, in combination with the firm supportfor the outer longitudinal arch and the flexible indirect support forthe in Her longitudinal arch. The result of this combination is that thevarious means will be efi'ective .to grasp the instep of the foot,thereby holding the tarsal bones together.

A further object of my invention has to do'with the provision of meansfor adjusting' the inner shank of thevshoe to fit. any height .of archand permit gradual adjustment of such shank in order to elevate a fallenfoot arch.

A further object of my inventionhas to do with the provision of means.for massaging the foot muscles with every step. In this case the outer,part of the outer longitudinal arch is firmly supported-while the innerpart of the arch is only more or less indirectly sup ported in ordertopermitfree play and exercilse of the muscles of the inner part of thearc A still further object of my invention has to do with the provisionof flexible means designed to extend under the ball of the foot,

and to give a spring step and aid locomotion 7 without undue weightbeing thrown on the ,ball of the foot; and further, to provide meansjust back of said first named means site -of inflammation, pain-andcallus in case of broken, weak or fallen arches.

Various other features of my invention will be apparent as thisdescription progresses and will be brought out in the claims append- .edthereto. The various objects of my invention arepreferably obtained bythe structure illustrated in the accompan mg drawdesignate correspondingparts:

a In said drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of my arch support applianceshowing the referred form of the shank, means for permittin the adjusting' of the inner arch' of theshoe, and the 'ings; wherein likecharacters; 0 reference I forward projecting tongues for supporting theball of the foot.

Figure 2 is a side elevatlon of the structure shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the structure shown in Figure 1 andshowing the preferred shape of such structure.

Figure 4 is a detail vie w ota modified form of arch support it beingsimilar to the structure shown in Figures 1 to 4 but without the ballsupport extensions.

Figure 5 is an enlarged longltudinal section taken on line 77 of Figure9 and showing themanner of applylng the ad ustable arch support betweenthe inner and outer soles of a shoe. I

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary detail View of the locking means ofFigure 5 and showing the manner of adjustably looking the arch supportin any desiredposition.

Figure 7 is a detail plan view of the lock plate utilized for lockingthe arch support in any given position.

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic slde elevation of a shoe provided with thearch support appliance but showing the shoe in nitial or nonadjustedposition.

Figure 9 is a bottom plan view of the structure shown in Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a bottom plan vlew of the structure shown in Figure 8 butdepict ng the shoe as bent inwardly; and also showing the arch supportappliance locked in this in- 'ner adjusted position.

Figure 11 is a diagrammatic view of a cross section of the instep of thefoot taken through-the transverse tarsal arch; and also showing themanner of supporting the transverse arch, the external arch and thelnternal arch.

Figure 12 is a diagrammatic side elevation showing the raised inner archof theshoe after it has been locked in adjusted position.

In the drawings, the arch support a'ppli ance is shown as comprising asimple and compact shank of preferably integral struc= ture it beingdesignated .1 and including a narrow shank piece 2, a heel plate 3; atransverse portion 4 and anterior extensionsb.

The arch support appliance is preferably made of spring steel and may beof a uniform thickness; or itmay be tapered toward its inner edge asbest illustrated in Figure The shank part 2 of the appliance is approxnmately of the general shape of the shank of the shoe, and is so designedthat, when placed in a shoe, it will be effective to directly supportthe outer longitudinal arch of the foot, and only indirectly support theinternal arch because the proximate outer arch is directly supported.The base or heel 3 of the support is preferably provided wlth anaperture 6 for convenience in lasting the shoe, providing a space fortacks.

Toward the forward part of the support the shank 2 gradually widens intothe transverse portion 4, the latter being designed to fit just behindthe tread of the sole of the shoe.

The vamp spring extensions 5 lie in the general longitudinal directionof the shoe, and may be of any desired number, being preferably made ofthe same material as the other part of the support, namely a thin pieceof spring steel. 1

l/Vhen the support-1 is placed between the inner and outer soles of ashoe, as best shown in Figures 5 and 6, the transverse portion 4 ture12, and a bushing 13, which bushing is 1 adapted to receive and supporta suitable set screw 14, said set screw adapted to pass through the slot7 in the support 1 and enter and cooperate with the threaded aperture10.

Inorder to secure the support 1 to the sole of the shoe it is providedwith a series of holes 15 that are preferably arranged as shown inFigures 1 and 10 so as to secure the heel and transverse portion 4 ofthe support preferably to the inner sole of the shoe. As the heel 3 andtransverse portion 4 are secured to the sole of the shoe it will beobvious that whenever the sole of the shoe is pressed or bent inwardly,as shown in Figure 10, the set screw 14, if loosened, will have itsposition changed in the slot 7 of the support 1, the internal portion ofthe shank 16 of the shoe may In Figs. 8 and9 the support 1 is shown inits normal non-adjusted position with relation to the sole of the shoe.In this position the set screw 14 is in the forward end. of the slot 7,

the inner part of the shank of the shoe remainlng in its normalposltion. In Figures 10 and 12 the sole of the shoe has been-bentinwardly until the set screw 14 is located adjacent the rear or oppositeend of the slot 7. When the set screw has been moved to this lastdescribed position the internal portion of shank 16 of the shoe israised to its maximum vertical position; In any position the shank piece2 of the appliance will be eflective to firmly support the innerlongitudinal arch of the foot while the internal portion of shank 16 ofthe shoe may be iixedin one position to flexibly but indirectly supportthe inner I011- through the holes 15 in the support.

gitudinal arch of a normal foot or it may be gradually adjusted to fitand build up the internal longitudinal arch when it is broken down.

In attaching the arch support appliance to j a shoe, the appliance ispreferably placed adjacent the outer sole 11 of the shoe, as best shownin Figs. 5 and 6, and positioned transversely and longitudinallyrelative to the gen eral contour of the shoe. The support 1 is thenpreferably secured to the inner sole of the shoe by suitable fasteningmeans inserted The outer sole 11 is then provided with a suitable setscrew 14 adapted to register with the up.-.

per end of the slot 7 when the shank of the shoe is in its normalposition, the inner sole 8 of the shoe being provided with a lock plate9, riveted thereto and designed to register with the set screw 14 andslot 7. The position of the part 1 is adjusted by first loosening thescrew 14 and then bending, straightening or twisting the shank as awhole and finally securing the part lin the changed position bytightening up said screw 14. In said operation the slot 7 permits thenecessary move ment of the part 1 in respect of the screw 14.

The vamp-spring extensions 5 project forward in the vamp of the shoe,and are preferably located between the inner sole 8 and the outer sole11. I

\Vhen the foot is placed in the shoe the shank 2 of" the support,because directly belowthe outer longitudinal arch, will firmly supportthat arch at all times. If the inner longitudinal. archis low thesupport can be permanently fixed in one position so that the inner shank16 of the-shoe is only slightly elevated, but if the arch is broken andre quires gradual raising, or, if the arch is heturally high,'theadjustment feature may be utilized to gradually raisethe inner shank ofthe shoe as the arch is gradually raised to its 3 normal position, orthe adjustment may be made at once so that the inner shank may be raisedto flexibly support the naturally high arch. Such adjustment and theeffect thereof. are best illustrated in Figure 11, which shows a crosssection of the instep of the foot through the transverse tarsal arch,made up of cuboid (CUB) external cuneiform (EC) middle cuneiform (MG)and internal cuneiform (IO) bones. The inner longitudinal arch isdesignated ILA. in this figure, and the outer longitudinal arch isdesignated ELA. The inner shank 16 of the shoe is shown in 'the normallower position in broken lines and in raised, extreme flexiblysupporting position,- insolid lines. It will be noted that the shank 2of the appliance will always firmly support the external longitudinalarch re-.

gardless of the position of the shank 16 and it will also be noted thatwhen the flexible inner shank 16 is raised by the adjustment of thesupport this shank will be eifective to flexibly or indirectly supportthe internal lateral arch. By adjustment of the shank, the upper orfallen arch. As the shank piece 16 is flexible no harm can result to themuscles'in the internal lateral arch.

The operation ofthe extensions 5, are-such that, in ordinary walking, aswhen the weight is thrown on the ball of the foot, the v vamp-springextensions are brought into action and, as the step is completed bytorsal fiexion 01E the ball ofthe foot, stress is put upon thevamp-spring. The tension thus.

produced in the vamp-spring prevents extreme bending of the vamp of theshoe, and gives the; body a forward spring motion instead of allowingthe forward motion and the stress to be felt in and cause a strain onthe ball of the foot. By thus minimizing the pressure due to weight andlocomotion, the pain from broken arches and inflamed tissues in the ballof the foot may be relieved and a ultimately eliminated.

In the modified form of my appliance, as shown in Fig. 4, the device maybe used solely as a shank piece comprising the transverse portion 4,shank 2 and heel 3. It will be obvious that in using the shank piece asjust described. it will be effective to firmly support the longitudinalexternal arch and flexibly support the corresponding internal arch,while-the vamp extensions, when used alone, will be effective toencourage a spring for ward in walking without undue Weight on the ballof the foot.

' It will be seen that I have provided a novel and decidedly simplemethod and m'eans for supporting arches'of the foot, the same beingeffective to firmly support those arches of the foot. that naturallybear the weight and indirectly and yieldingly support and permitexercise of sue arches as are intended to be naturally muscular andresilient.

It will also be seen that I have provided a method and appartus forbinding, or to prevent from spreading, the tarsal bones of thetransverse arch. Furthermore, it will be noted that I have providedmeans for encouraging a spring forward in walking .without imposingundue weight on the ball of the foot, that portion being. the mostfrequent site of inflammation, pain and calluses in cases of weak,broken or fallen arches.

The forms and dimensions of the parts can be changed without departingfrom the gist of the invention as claimed.

WVhat I claim is: W

1. A shoe having a shank reinforcing element permanently incorporatedwith the shoe, said reinforcing element including a shank portion ofrelatively rigid material and extending only beneath the outerlongitudinal arch of the foot to support said arch and avoid support ofthe'inner longitudinal arch, and a. rear portion extending over the heelof the shoe.

2. In combination with a shoe, a reinforcing element comprising a shankportion mounted to extend only beneath the outer longitudinal arch ofthe foot, and avoiding direct support of the inner longitudinal arch, arear portion extending back over the heel of the shoe, a transverseportion extending across the forward end of the shank of the shoe, andmeans for fixing the inner portion of the shank of the shoe in differentadjusted positions. I

3. In combination with a shoe, a reinforcing element comprising a shankportion mounted to extend only beneath the outer longitudinal arch ofthe foot and avoiding direct support of the inner longitudinal arch, arear portion extending back over the heel of the shoe, and means forfixing the inner portion of the shank of adjusted positions. 4. .Incombination With a shoe, an element reinforcing the outer portion of theshank of the shoe, mounted to extend principally beneath the outerlongitudinal arch of the foot to support said arch and avoid support ofthe inner side of the instep of the foot, a rear portion extending backover the heel of the shoe, and a transverse portion extending across theshoe in a position near the junction of the shank portion and forepartof the shoe.

5. A shoe having a reinforcing element permanently incorporated With theshoe, said reinforcing element including a portion to reinforce theouter portion of the shank-of the shoe and mounted to extend principallybethe shoe in different neath the outer longitudinal arch of the foottosupport that arch and avoid supporting theinner side of the instep ofthe foot.

- JOHN HISS.

